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BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


CONSTITUTION   AND 

BY-LAWS 

OF    THE 

Western  Federation 

of  Miners 

ADOPTED    AT 

BUTTE  CITY,  MONT. 

May  19,  1893. 

^.^ 

Amended 

at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

1894. 

Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1895 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  1896 

Amended 

at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

1897. 

Amended 

at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

1898. 

Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

1899. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1900. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1901. 

Amended 

and  revised  at  Denver,  Colorado,      1 

November,  1901. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1902. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1903, 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1904. 

Amended 

at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

1905. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  May, 

1906. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  June 

.   1907. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  July 

1908. 

Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1 

909. 

Amended 

at  Denver,  Colorado,  July 

1910. 

Amended 

at  Butte,  Montana,  July, 

1911. 

\     I  W-^-v^.v.;  O? — —  (_v 

CONSTITUTION    AND^^^ 
BY-LAWS 

OF   THE 

Western  Federation 
of  Miners 

ADOPTED    AT 

BUTTE  CITY,   MONT. 

May  19,  1893. 


Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1894. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1895. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1896. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,    Utah,  1897. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1898. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1899. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1900. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1901. 
Amended  and  revised  at  Denver,  Colorado, 

November,  1901. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1902. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1903. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1904. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1905. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1906. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  June,  1907. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1908. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1909. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1910. 
Amended  at  Butte,  Montana,  July,   1911. 

Pearl  Print  Shop,  026  19th  St.,  Denver 


PREAMBLE 


1  1.     We  hold  that  there  is  a  class  struggle  in 

2  Society  and  that  this  struggle  is  caused  by  eco- 

3  nomic  conditions. 

4  2.     We  affirm  the  economic  condition  of  the 

5  producer  to  be  that  he  is  exploited  of  the  wealth 

6  which   he   produces,    being   allowed   to   retain 

7  barely  sufficient  for  his  elementary  necessities. 

8  3.     We    hold    that   the    class   struggle   will 

9  continue  until   the   producer  is'  recognized  as 

10  the  sole  master  of  his  product. 

11  4.     We  assert  that  the  working  class,  and 

12  it  alone,  can  and  must  achieve  its  cwn  eman- 

13  cipation. 

14  5.     We  hold,  finally,  that  an  industrial  union 

15  and  the  concerted  political  action  of  all  wage 

16  workers,  is  the  only  method  of  attaining  this 

17  end. 

18  6.     Therefore,    we,    the    wage    slaves,    em- 

19  ployed  in  and  around  the  mines,  mills,  smel- 

20  ters,  tunnels,  open  pits  and.  open   cuts,  havp 

21  associated     in     the     Western     Federation     of 

22  Miners. 


CONSTITUTION 


ARTICLE  I. 

1  Section  1.   This  organization  shall  be  known 

2  as  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

3  be   composed   of  all  persons   working  in  and 

4  around   mines,   mills,   smelters,   tunnels,   open 

5  pits  and  open  cuts,  organized  into  unions  pay- 

6  ing  per  capita  tax  to  the  Federation. 

7  Sec.    2.     The   objects   of   this    organization 

8  shall  be  to  unite  the  various  persons  working 

9  in  and  around  the  mines,  mills,  smelters,  tun- 

10  nels,  open  pits  and  open  cuts,  into  one  central 

11  body,  to  practice  those  virtues  that  adorn  so- 

12  ciety  and  remind  man  of  his  duty  to  his  fellow 

13  man,  the  elevation  of  his  position  and  the  main- 

14  tenance  of  the  rights  of  the  workers. 

15  Sec.  3.    Whenever  twenty  or  more  persons, 

16  working  as  specified  in  Section  1  of  this  arti- 

17  cle,  shall  be  found  that  will  be  self-supporting, 

18  they  shall,  on  application,  be  granted  a  char- 

19  ter.    Provided  that  no  charter  shall  be  issued 

20  the    effect    of    which    is     to    segregate    the 

21  crafts  engaged  in  the  mining  industry. 

ARTICLE    II. 
Convention. 

22  Section  1.     This  Federation  shall  hold  its  bi- 

23  ennial  convention  on  the  third  Monday  in  July, 

24  at  such  place  as  the  convention  shall  designate 

25  before  adjournment  of  any  session  thereof. 

26  Sec.  2.     Each  union  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

27  delegate  for  one  hundred  members  or  less,  and 

28  one  for  each  additional  one  hundred  or  major- 

29  ity  fraction  thereof.  Provided,  no  delegate  shall 

30  in  any  event,  either  holding  proxy  votes  or  rep- 

31  resenting  a  union  entitled  to  a  greater  number, 

32  cast  more   than  five  votes. 


1  See.  3.    Representation  in  the  biennial  con- 

2  vention   shall   be    based   on   the   April    report 

3  prior  to  the  holding  of  the  convention,  and  the 

4  January  report  of  each  year  shall  be  an  annual 

5  report;   provided,  in  case  a  special  convention 

6  is  held,  the  representation  shall  be  based  on 

7  the  last  monthly  report  prior  to  the  calling  of 

8  the  special  convention. 

9.     Sec.  4.     Each  union  shall  elect  a  delegate  or 

10  delegates  and  alternates  to  attend  the  biennial 

11  convention  of  the  Federation.     Such  delegates 

12  and  alternates  shall  be  nominated  and  elected 

13  in  compliance  with  Section  1,  Article  III  of  the 

14  By-Laws,  and  said  election  of  delegates  and  al- 

15  ternates   shall   take   place   at  the   semi-annual 

16  election  of  all  local  unions,  the  first  meeting  in 

17  June.     The   alternate   delegate   shall   only   at- 

18  tend  and  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  convention 

19  when  the  regularly  elected   delegate  fails,  re- 

20  fuses  or  is  unable  to  be  present  to  discharge 

21  his  duties.     To  be  eligible,  a  delegate  or  alter- 

22  nate  must  be  a  bona  fide  wage  worker  in  the 

23  jurisdiction  of  his  local  union,  or  one  who  is 

24  employed  by  his  local  union,  or  the  Western 

25  Federation  of  Millers,  having  a  membership  in 

26  good   standing  in   the   Western   Federation   of 

27  Miners  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  one  year, 

28  immediately  preceding  the  date  of  his  nomina- 

29  tion;  provided,  however,  that  the  provisions  of 

30  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  the  unions  and 

31  members   thereof  which   have  been   organized 

32  for  a  length  of  time  less  than  that  mentioned 

33  herein.     Delegates  shall  present  their  creden- 

34  tials  and  have  them  passed  upon  before  taking 

35  their  seats  in  the  convention.    Delegates  in  at- 

36  tendance  at  the  convention  and  absenting  them- 

37  selves   without   permission  from   the   sessions 

38  thereof  shall  not  be  entitled  to  their  per  diem 

39  for  any  day,  or  part  of  a  day,  upon  which  they 

40  were  absent.    Duplicate  credentials  must  be  in 


1  the  hands  of  the  secretary-treasurer  at  least 

2  fifteen   days  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  con- 

3  vention.    No  local  union  shall  be   entitled   to 

4  representation  in  the  convention  which  has  not 

5  complied  with  the  constitution  of  the  Federa- 

6  tion.    All  proxy  credential  certificates  must  be 

7  sent  direct  to  the  delegates  named  thereon,  and 

8  the  duplicate  certificate  to  the  secretary-treas- 

9  urer  at  headquarters  fifteen  days  prior  to  the 

10  meeting  of  the  biennial  convention. 

11  Sec.  5.     Delegates  representing  a  majority 

12  of  the  unions  comprising  the  Federation  shall 

13  constitute  a  quorum. 

14  Sec.  6.     Ladies'  Auxiliaries  of  the  Western 

15  Federation  of  Miners  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

16  delegate  with  one  vote  for  each  auxiliary  in 

17  good  standing  and  transportation  expenses  for 

18  said  delegate  shall  be  paid  by  the  Federation. 

Pay  of   Delegates. 

19  Sec.  7.     The  pay  of  each  delegate  to  the  bi 

20  ennial  convention  shall  not  be  less  than  $5.00 

21  per  day,  which  shall  be  paid  by  the  union  he 

22  represents. 

23  The  Federation  shall  pay  the  transportation 

24  expenses  of  one  delegate  from  each  union  in 

25  good  standing.     Any  union  electing  more  than 

26  one  delegate  shall  pay  transportation  expenses 

27  on   all   delegates   elected   above   that   number. 

28  Secretaries  of  all  local  unions  shall  insert  on 

29  credential  card  the  name  of  delegate  entitled 

30  to  mileage  at  headquarters. 

ARTICLE    III. 

Nomination  and   Election  of  Officers. 

31  Section  1.     The  officers  of  the  Federation 

32  shall  consist  of  the  President,  Vice-President, 

33  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  four  other  Executive 

34  Board  members,  all  of  whom  shall  be  elected 

35  by  a  vote  of  the  membership. 


1  Sec.  2.     The  call,  with  blanks  for  nomina- 

2  tions,  shall  be  issued  by  the  Secretary-Treas- 

3  urer  on  the  first  day  of  March  in  each  even 

4  numbered  year.    Each  local  may  nominate  one 

5  candidate  for  each  office,  but  the  name  of  no 

6  candidate  shall  be  placed  on  the  ballot  unless 

7  nominated  by  at  least  five  locals. 

8  Sec.    3.     The    returns    of   the    nominations 

9  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

10  urer  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners  not 

11  later  than  the  15th  day  of  April;  provided,  that 

12  any  local  that  cannot  be  reached  by  mail  may 

13  use'  telegraph  or  other  means  of  communica- 

14  tion. 

15  Sec.  4.     The  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  im- 

16  mediately  notify  each  nominee  of  his  nomina- 

17  tion,  and  his  acceptance,  together  with  a  state- 

18  ment  certifying  to  the  eligibility  of  the  nom- 

19  inee  for  the  office  for  which  he  is  nominated 

20  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Constitution, 

21  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

22  urer  not  later  than  May  10th. 

23  Sec.  5.     The  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  send 

24  to  each  local  Union  a  sufficient  number  of  bal- 

25  lots  for  the  members  thereof  on  which  shall  be 

26  printed  in  full  the  names  of  all  eligible  candi- 

27  dates.    The  voting  shall  take  place  at  the  regu- 

28  lar  June  election  of  that  year. 

29  Sec.  6.     The  Secretaries  of  the  local  unions 

30  shall  immediately  after  election  send  the  bal- 

31  lots  and  returns  of  the  election  to  headquar- 

32  ters,  said  returns  to  be  signed  by  the  judges  of 

33  election,  countersigned  by  the  Secretary  and 

34  bear  the  seal  of  the  local  union.     The  returns 

35  shall  be  sent  to  headquarters  in  a  special  en- 

36  velope    provided    by    headquarters   on  which 

37  shall  be  printed  the  words  ''Election  Returns," 

38  these  returns  and  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact 

39  until  the  convening  of  the  Convention. 

40  Sec.  7.     At  the  Convention  a  committee  of 


1  three  shall  be  elected  to  canvass  the  returns, 

2  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact  until  the  close^  of 

3  the  Convention,  after  which,  if  no  contest  is 

4  made,  these  ballots  shall  be  destroyed. 

5  Sec.  8.     For  the  offices  of  President,  Vice- 
G  President  and   Secretary-Treasurer  the  candi- 

7  dates  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes 

8  for  each  of  those   respective   offices   shall   be 

9  elected,  and  the  four  candidates  for  Executive 

10  Board    members    receiving    the    four    highest 

11  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected. 

12  Sec.  9.     All  officers  elected  to  be  installed 

13  at  the  Convention  or,  if  absent,  as  soon  there- 

14  after  as  possible,  and  they  shall  take  office  on 

15  the  1st  day  of  September  following. 

16  Sec.  10.     Delegates  to  the  American  Peder- 

17  ation  of  I^abor  Convention  shall  be  elected  an- 

18  nually,  according  to  the   same  provisions   for 

19  the  election  of  officers  in  the  biennial  election. 

20  Sec.    11.     The    candidates   receiv- 

21  ing  the highest  number  of  votes  shall 

22  be  declared  elected. 

23  Sec.  12.     The  candidates  receiv- 

24  ing  the  next highest  number  of  votes 

25  shall  be  declared  alternates. 

26  Sec.   13.     Delegates   to   the  American   Ped- 

27  eration  of  Labor  shall  receive  the  same  pay  as 

28  Delegates  to  the  Western  Federation  of  Min- 

29  ers'  Convention. 

30  Sec*  14.     To    be    eligible    to    any    elective 

31  office,  or  Delegate  to  the  American  Federation 

32  of   Labor    Convention,   the    same   qualification 

33  shall   be   required   as   those   provided    in   this 

34  Constitution  for  Delegates  to  the  Western  Ped- 

35  eration  of  Miners'  Convention. 

Recall   of  Officers. 

36  Sec.   15.     On    petition   for  the   recall  of   an 

37  official  of  the   Western  Federation  of   Miners 

38  signed  by  not  less  than  ten  per  cent  of  the 


1  membership  of  the  Federation  in  good  stand- 

2  ing  from  not  less  than  ten  local  unions  of  the 

3  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  it  shall  be  the 

4  imperative    duty    of   the    Executive    Board    to 

5  call  for  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  mem- 

6  bership  in  the  manner  provided  for  in  Section 

7  11,  Article  IV. 

ARTICLE    IV. 
Duties  of  Officers. 


Duties  of  President. 

8  Section  1.   It  is  the  dutj^  of  the  President  to 

9  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Federation,  pre- 

10  serve  order,  enforce  the  constitution  and  watch 

11  vigilantly  over  the  interests  and  affairs  of  the 

12  Federation.    In  this  he  shall  be  assisted  by  all 

13  the  officers  of  the  Federation.     He  shall  have 

14  the  right  to  vote  at  the  election  of  officers,  and 

15  when  the  members  are  equally  divided  he  shall 
IG  have  the  deciding  vote  on  the  question  under 

17  consideration.    He  shall  sign  all  orders  drawi 

18  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  in  compliance  with 

19  a  vote  of  the  majority  at  any  session  of  the 

20  Executive  Board.     He  shall,  with  the  approval 

21  of  the  Executive  Board,  fill  all  vacancies  occur- 

22  ring  in  the  Executive  Board,  or  in  the  offices 

23  of  Vice-President  and  Secretary-Treasurer.  He 

24  may,  with  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board, 

25  appoint  such  organizers  as  the  condition  of  the 

26  Federation  may  justify.     Said  organizers  shall 

27  at  all  times  act  under  the  instructions  of  the 

28  president,  and  they  shall  receive  not  less  than 

29  $100.00  per  month  for  such  time  as  they  are 

30  actually   employed,   together   with   transporta- 

31  tion  expenses,  and  they  shall  report  to  the  of- 

32  fice  of  the  Federation  in  writing  at  least  once 


1  each  week,  while  in  the  employ  of  the  Federa- 

2  tion  as  organizers.     The  President  shall  visit 

3  each  district  once  each  year,  and  visit  as  many 

4  unions  as  the  condition  of  the  Federation  will 

5  permit;  and  he  may  also  examine  the  books  of 

6  any  union  he  visits,  provided  he  has  time  so 

7  to  do,  in  order  to  ascertain  if   each  union  is 

8  paying   its   share   of   the   maintenance   of  the 

9  Federation.  He  shall  communicate  with  persons 

10  living  in  places  where  the  Federation  does  not 

11  exist,  and  have  them  organized,  if  possible.  He 

12  may  convene  the  Executive  Board  when,  in  his 

13  opinion,  the  affairs  of  the  Federation  will  justi- 

14  fy  the  same;  and  he  may,  with  the  approval  of 

15  the  Executive  Board,  call  an  extra  convention 

16  of  the  Federation,  and  he  shall,  on  the  written 

17  request  of  six  members  of  the  Executive  Board 

18  or  on  written  request  of  ten  unions  having  a 

19  combined  membership  of  7,500,  call  an  extra 

20  convention  of  the  Federation.   He  shall  be  and 

21  he  is  hereby  constituted   the   trustee   to   sell, 

22  transfer  or  encumber  in  any  manner  and  to 

23  any  extent  that  he  deems  for  the  best  interests 

24  of  the  Federation,  any  and  all  real  and  per- 

25  sonal  property,  except  the  funds  of  the  Western 

26  Federation   of   Miners,    with    the    concurrence 

27  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Board 

28  of  the  Federation,  or  a  convention  duly  called 

29  and  assembled,  and  he   shall  execute  all  such 

30  documents  in  manner  following:     The  Western 

31  Federation  of  Miners,  by ,  Trustee. 

32  He  shall  submit  a  complete  report  of  his  work 

33  during  the  term  of  his  office  to  each  conven- 

34  tion,  and    make    such    recommendations  as  in 

35  his  judgment  will  advance  the  interests  of  the 


1  organization.      The    President    shall   have   the 

2  power    with    the    consent    of    the    Executive 

3  Board,    to    revoke    the    charter    of   any    local 

4  union  for  violation  of  the  constitution  or  by- 

5  laws,  or  proven  treachery  to  the  principles  of 

6  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners.     He  shall 

7  receive  $5.00  per  day  for  his  services,  besides 

8  such  an  additional  amount  as  may  be  neces- 

9  sary    to   defray   his   transportation    and    other 

10  expenses. 

Duties   of   yice-President. 

11  Sec.  2.    It  is  the  duty  of  the  Vice-President 

12  to  assist  the  President  to  preserve  order   at 

13  all  meetings  and  assist  him  in  the  discharge 

14  of  his  duties;   preside  during  his  absence,  and 

15  perform  the  duties  devolving  upon  the  Presi- 

16  dent;  and  in  case  of  vacancy  occurring  in  the 

17  office    of   President,   he   shall   ascend   to   the 

18  Presidency  and  act  as  such  for  the  unexpired 

19  term. 

Duties  of  Secretary-Treasurer. 

20  Sec.  3.     It  shall  be  the   duty  of  the  Secre- 

21  tary-Treasurer  to  attend  all  conventions  of  the 

22  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  bring  there- 

23  to  all  the  necessary  books,  papers,  and  docu- 

24  ments    pertaining    to    his    office,    and    keep   a 

25  proper  and  correct  record  of  the  proceedings 

26  of  the  conventiou;    read  all   petitions,   resolu- 

27  tions  and  communications,  not  in  charge  of  a 

10 


1  special  committee,  which  may  be  submitted  to 

2  the   Federation,    file   and    safely   keep,    unless 

3  otherwise  ordered,  all    papers    or    documents 

4  which  have  been  before  the  convention.  At  each 

5  biennial   meeting  of   the   convention   he   shall 

6  submit  a  complete  report  of  the  receipts  and 

7  disbursements  of  the  Federation  for  the   pre- 

8  ceding  year,  number  of  unions  organized,  num- 

9  ber  in  good  standing  and  the  number  of  unions 

10  disbanded,  if  any,  and  the  cause  thereof.     If 

11  ordered  by  the  convention,  he  shall  cause  to  be 

12  printed   duly  authenticated   copies  of  the  pro- 

13  ceedings  of  the  convention  and  furnish   each 

14  local  union  with  a  copy  thereof.   He  shall  pre- 

15  pare,  sign  and  seal  all  charters  and  such  other 

16  papers  and  documents  as  may  emanate   from 

17  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  which 

18  are    required    to    be    duly    authenticated.      He 

19  shall,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  send  a  report 

20  to  each  local  union,  showing  the  receipts,  and 

21  the  dates  thereof,  of  all  moneys  received  from 

22  the  local  unions  for  the  preceding  quarter.   All 

23  moneys  coming  into  his  hands  belonging  to  the 

24  Federation  shall  be  deposited,  at  least  twice  a 
2.5  month,   in  some   solvent  bank  or   banks,   and 

26  shall  only  be  drawn  out  to  pay  indebtedness 

27  arising  out  of  the  due  conducting  of  the  busi- 

28  ness    of  the   Federation,   and   then   only   after 

29  a  bill  shall  have  been  first  duly  presented  by 

30  the  creditor,  when  in  payment  thereof  a  check 

31  shall  be  drawn  and  signed  by  him,  after  which 

32  he  shall  present  it,  together  with  the  bill,  to 

33  the   President   for   his    counter-signature.      He 

34  shall  have  charge  of  all  the  funds  and  property 

35  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

36  keep  a  careful  and  accurate  account  thereof,  as 

37  well  as  an  accurate  account  of  all  funds  arising 

38  out  of  the  relation  of  the  Federation  with  the 

39  local  unions,  and  whenever  money  is  receiverl 

40  from  a  local  union,  a  receipt  therefor  must  be 

11 


1  given  or  mailed  to  the  sender.  He  shall  prompt- 

2  ly  attend  to  all  correspondence  pertaining  to  his 

3  office,  and  within  the  first  week  in  May  of  each 

4  year  he  shall  send  to  each  union  which  is  not 

5  indebted  to  the  Federation  for  moneys,  which  it 

6  should  have  paid  under  the  Constitution,  dupli- 

7  cate  credentials  for  delegates.    Upon  the  expi- 

8  ration  of  his  term  of  office  or  retirement  from 

9  any  cause  he   shall  faithfully  account  for  all 

10  money  or  property  coming  into  his  hands  and 

11  all  funds  or  property  remaining  in  his  hands  or 

12  not  paid  out  or  disposed  of  in  the  due  course  of 

13  the  discharge 'of  his  official  duties,  it  shall  be 

14  accounted  for  and  turned  over  to  his  successor 

15  or  such  other  person  who  may  be  duly  author- 

16  ized  to  take  into  his  custody  the  funds  or  prop- 

17  erty  of  the  Federation.  For  the  honest  and  faith- 

18  ful  discharge  of  his  duties  he  shall  give  a  bond 

19  in  the  sum  of  not  less  than  $30,000,  the  bond  so 

20  given  to  be  approved  by  the  Executive  Board  and 

21  kept  in  their  custody.  For  his  services  he  shall 

22  receive  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150) 

23  dollars  per  month,  which  may  be  paid  monthly 

24  out  of  the  funds  of  the  Federation,  in  the  same 

25  manner  as  is  provided  for  the  payment  of  other 

26  bills  and  indebtedness.  He  shall  issue  a  supple- 

27  ment  to  his   quarterly  report  of  all  members 

28  suspended,  fined  or  expelled  during  the  quarter. 

Executive  Board. 

29  Sec.  4.     The  Executive  Board  shall  consti- 

30  tute  the  Federation   board   of  arbitration   and 

31  conciliation,  and  between  conventions  have  full 

32  power   to   direct  the  workings  of  the  Federa- 

33  tion.    No  representative  of  a  union  shall  be  en- 

34  titled  to  a  hearing  before  the  Executive  Board 

35  without   proper    credentials,    with    the    seal    of 

36  the  union  attached  thereto. 

37  Sec.  5.     The  Executive  Board  shall  be  con- 

38  vened  by  the  President,  or  by  the  Secretary- 

12 


1  treasurer,  at  the  request  of  three  members  of 

2  the  Board. 

3  Sec.  6.     The  imperative  mandate  shall  effect 

4  all   elective   officers   on   receipt   of   a   petition 

5  signed  by  over  fifty  per  cent  of  the  members 

6  of  the  Federation  in  good  standing. 

7  Sec.    7.     The   jurisdiction    of    the    Western 

8  Federation   of  Miners   shall  cover  the  United 

9  States  and  its  territories,  and  the  Dominion  of 

10  Canada. 

11  Sec.   8.     Each   member    of    the    Executive 

12  Board  shall  act  as  an  organizer  and  he  shall 

13  also   be  required   to   make   such   investigation 

14  relative  to  the  condition  of  each  local   union 

15  as  in  his  judgment  may  be  necessary,  and  make 

16  a  report  thereof  to  the  President  of  the  Feder- 

17  ation  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  June  of  each 

18  year.     In  case  of  trouble  arising  in  the  juris- 

19  diction  of  a  union,  the  member  shall  be  sum- 

20  moned  and  given  full  charge  in  the  direction 

21  of  negotiations  until  the  arrival  of  the  Presl- 

22  dent,  who  shall  be  summoned  if  necessary.  For 

23  all  necessary  services  rendered  in  the  discharge 

24  of  his  duties,  he  shall  receive  the  sum  of  $5.00 

25  per  day  for  such  time  as  he  is  actually  em- 

26  ployed,    together   with    his    transportation    ex- 

27  penses,  and  he  shall  at  all  times  be  subject  to 

28  the  orders  of  the  President. 

29  Sec.  9.     The     Executive     Board     members 

30  shall  be  placed  on  continuous  pay,  and  kept  In 

31  the  field  constantly,  and  be  at  all  times  under 

32  the  direction  of  the  President,  who  shall  direct 

33  their   actions   in   the   field,    and   shall   require 

34  each  member  to  report  weekly  the  result  of  his 

35  work,  and  to  audit  the  books  of  all  locals  he 

36  may  visit  and  make  a  thorough  report  on  con- 

37  dition  of  same. 

38  Sec.  10.     All    members    of    the    Executive 

39  Board,  and   organizers   employed   by   the   Fed- 

40  eration  shall  submit  monthly  reports  for  publi: 

13 


1  cation  in  the  Miners'  Magazine,  these  reports 

2  to  contain  matters  of  interest  to  the  general 

3  organization. 

4  Sec.  11.     The  Executive  Board  shall,  on  de- 

5  mand  of  ten  or  more  locals,  submit  all  such 

6  matters  pertaining  to  such  proposition  to  a  ref- 

7  erendum  vote  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer, 

8  not  later  than  fifteen  days  after  receipt  thereof; 

9  provided  that  no  such  referendum  shall  be  sub- 

10  mitted  which  is  a  reversal  of  a  former  refer- 

11  endum  within  one  year.   The  majority  of  such 

12  vote  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  concerned. 

13  Sec.  12.     The    Executive    Board    Members 

14  shall  be  delegates  at  large  to  the  convention 

15  and  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  as  other 

16  delegates  at  the  convention. 

ARTICLE    V. 
Revenues  and   Disbursements. 

17  Section  1.     The  revenue  of  the  Federation 

18  shall  be  derived  from  a  charter  fee  of  ten  dol- 

19  lars  and  a  per  capita  tax  of  twenty-five  cents 

20  per  month  on  all   monthly  dues   collected   in 

21  accordance  with  the  stamp  system,  to  be  paid 

22  from  the  general  fund  of  each  union  through 

23  the  purchase  of  said  stamps  in  advance,  and 

24  in  case  of  emergency  such  assessments,  as  in 

25  the  judgment  of  the  Executive  Board  or  con- 

26  vention  may  be  necessary,  the  same  shall  be 

27  paid  from  the  general  fund,  and  based  on  the 

28  preceding  monthly  report  previous  to  such  as- 

29  sessment. 

30  Sec.  2.     Any  union  failing  to  purchase  the 

31  required  number  of  per  capita  and  assessment 

32  stamps  to  stamp  all  membership  cards,  in  com- 

33  pliance  with  the  stamp  system,  shall  be  peral- 

34  Ized  as  prescribed  by  Section  3,  Article  IX. 

14 


ARTICLE   VI. 

Official    Journal. 

1  Section   1.     The    Journal    shall    he    issued 

2  weekly   under   the   direct    supervision   of   the 

3  General  Executive  Board.  The  Executive  Board 

4  shall  have  the  power  to  appoint  the  Editor  of 

5  the  Miners'  Magazine, 

6  Sec.   2.     The   pages   of  the  official   journal 

7  shall  be  open  to  all  officers  and  members  of 

8  the  organization  for  the  discussion  of   social 

9  affairs,     industrial,     economic     and     political 

10  questions,   or   any   other   questions   pertaining 

11  to  the  interest  of  the  working-class.     It  shall 

12  endeavor  to  enlighten  the  membership  of  the 

13  organization  on  the  cost  of  production  of  the 

14  various  kinds  of  metals,  viz:   iron,  steel,  lead, 

15  zinc  and  copper,  and  its  market  value.    It  shall 

16  endeavor  to  give  statistics  showing  what  wages 

17  are   being   paid,  to   the    miners,    millmen   and 

18  smeltermen  and  steel  workers  in  the  different 

19  states  and  territories  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

20  Western  Federation  of  Miners.  It  further  shall 

21  endeavor  to  demonstrate  what  relation  there 

22  exists  between  one  set  of  workers  and  another 

23  set  of  workers,  especially  those  workers  who 

24  are   engaged  in  the  production  of  coal,   iron, 

25  steel,  lead,  zinc  and  copper,  and  other  precious 

26  metals,  and  it  shall  at  all  times  advocate  the 

27  principles  of  Industrial  Unionism. 

ARTICLE  VII. 
Strikes  and  Adjustments. 

28  Section  i.     It    shall    be    unlawful    for  any 

29  union  to  enter  upon  a   strike  unless   ordered 

30  by    two-thirds    of    the    votes    cast    upon    the 

15 


1  question;    such  questions   shall  be  decided  by 

2  referendum  vote,  notice  of  such  referendum  to 

3  be  posted  three  days  in  advance,  vote  to   l)e 

4  by  ballot   and   polls   to   be   open   for   not   less 

5  than  eight  hours.     No  call   shall  be  made  for 

6  a  referendum  vote  on  a  strike  until  after  hav- 

7  ing    received   the    approval    of    the    Executive 

8  Board  of  the  W.  F.  M. 

9  Sec.  2.     In  case  of  a  strike  being  in  progress 

10  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federation,  where  a 

11  union  of  the  Federation  is  on  strike,  regularly 

12  ordered  by  the  union  and  the  Executive  Board, 

13  and  in  the  opinion  of  the  President  and  the 

14  executive  Board  it  becomes  necessary  to  call 

15  out  any  other  union  or  unions  in  order  to  carry 

16  the   strike   to    a    successful   termination,    that 

17  they  shall  have  full  power  to  do  so. 

18  Sec.  3.    Any  agreement  entered  into  between 

19  the  members  of  any  local  union  and  their  em- 

20  ployers  as  a  final  settlement  of  any  difficulty 

21  or  trouble  that  may  occur  between  them  shall 

22  not  be  considered   valid  or  binding   until  the 

23  same  shall  have  the  approval  of  the  Executive 

24  Board  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners. 

25  Sec.  4.     No  local  union  or  unions  of  the  W. 

26  F.  M.   shall  enter  into  any  signed  contract  or 

27  verbal  agreement  for  any   specified  length  of 

28  time  with  their  employers. 

ARTICLE  VIM. 
New   Unions. 

29  Section  1.     Whenever  twenty  or  more  non- 
30  union  or  union  men  shall  be  so  situated  within 

31  the  jurisdiction  of  a  union  that  the  attendance 

32  at  the  meetings  of  such  union  would  be  incon- 

33  venient,  they  may  apply  to  the  President  of  the 

34  Federation  for  a  charter.     Should  he  consider 

35  their  application  a  proper  one  for  the  advance- 

36  ment,  both  of  the  interests  of  the  applicants  and 

37  the  Federation,  a  charter  shall  be  granted  them 

16 


1  and    their   territorial    jurisdiction    defined.      If 

2  such  applicants  are  members  they  must  apply 
:j  to  their  respective   unions  for  transfer  cards, 

4  through  the  secretary-elect.     Any  union  refus- 

5  ing  to  issue  such  cards  shall  be  subject  to  a 

6  fine,  the  amount  of  which  shall  be  determined 

7  by  the  Executive  Board. 

ARTICLE    IX. 
Penalties. 

8  Section  1.     Any  union  failing  or  refusing  to 

9  comply    with    the    Constitution    and    By-Laws 

10  shall  for  the  first  offense  be  suspended  from 

11  the  privileges  and  benefits  of  the  Federation 

12  for  three  months,  and  for  the  second  offense, 

13  six  months,  or  be  expelled,  as  the  Executive 

14  Board  may  determine. 

15  Sec.  2.     Any  union  failing  to  make  correct 

16  monthly  reports  to  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of 

17  the  Federation,  thereby  evading  its  just  share 

18  of  the  per  capita  tax  and  assessments,  shall  be 

19  fined  for  each  offense  a  sum  equal  to  double 

20  the  amount  so  evaded. 

21  Sec.   3.     Any  local  union  whose   Secretary 

22  fails  to  place  the  required  number  of  per  capita 

23  or  general   assessment   stamps   upon  a  mem- 

24  ber's  card  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  dol- 

25  lar  for  each  stamp  not  so  placed. 

26  Sec.  4.     Any  local  union  whose   Secretary 

27  fails  to  forward  to  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of 

28  the  Federation  properly  filled  out  monthly  and 

29  annual  reports  within  ten  days  after  the  same 

30  become  due,  shall  be  advertised  in  the  Miners' 

31  Magazine.  This  section  shall  not  apply  to  local 

32  unions  in  Alaska. 

ARTICLE    X. 
Duties   and    Privileges   of    Members. 

33  Section  1.    Each  member  at  initiation  shall 

34  pledge  himself  to  support  the  Constitution  of 

35  the  Federation  and  obey  all  lawful   orders   of 

17 


1  the  Executive  Board,  in  addition  to  the  obli- 

2  gation  required  by  the  union  of  which  he  be- 
8  comes  a  member. 

4  Sec.  2.     If  a  member  of  a  union  commits  an 

5  offense  in  violation  of  his  obligation,  or  against 

6  the  good  and  welfare  of  his  union,  or  any  union 

7  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  or  any 

8  members  thereof,  or  in  violation  of  the  Consti- 

9  tution  and  By-Laws  of  the  Western  Federation 

10  of  Miners,  or  affiliated  unions,  he  shall  be  en- 

11  titled  to  an  impartial  trial  by  his  local  union, 

12  as  hereinafter  provided.  The  offense  with  which 

13  he  is  charged  shall  be  presented  in  writing  to 

14  his   local   union   by   the   member   making   the 

15  charge,  who  at  the  time  must  be  a  member  of 

16  the    Western    Federation    of    Miners    in    good 

17  standing.     Said  charges  shall  be  read  by  the 

18  Recording  Secretary  of  the  union  at  the  first 

19  regular  meeting  of  the  union  after  the  paper 

20  containing  the  charges  is  received.  When  said 

21  charges  are  read,  the  President  shall,  without 

22  discussion,  appoint  an  impartial  committee  of 

23  five  members  of  the  union  in  good  standing  to 

24  investigate  such  charges,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 

25  to  present  a  copy  of  the  charges  to  the  member 

26  against  whom  the  charges  have  been  preferred 

27  and  notify  him  when  to  appear  before  said  com- 

28  mittee  for  trial.    Similar  notice  shall  be  served 

29  upon  the  member  preferring  the  charges.    This 

30  committee  shall  elect  a  chairman  and  secretary 

31  before   proceeding   to   hear   evidence    for   the 

32  plaintiff  and  defendant,  and  keep  a  correct  copy 

33  of  the  charges  and  all  testimony  presented,  and 

34  submit  the  same  to  the  union,  with  their  writ- 

35  ten  report  signed  by  alj  members  of  the  com- 

18 


1  mittee.    The  union  shall  either  adopt  or  reject 

2  the  report  of  the   committee.    The   defendant 

3  shall  have  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  Executive 

4  Board  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners, 

5  and  from  that  body  to  the  ensuing  convention. 

6  The  Executive  Board  shall  receive  no  evidence 

7  in  the  case  except  the  records  of  the  commit- 

8  tee,  nor  permit  any  witness  to  appear  for  the 

9  plaintiff  or  defendant.  Should  the  union  fail  to 

10  preserve  the  records  of  the  investigation  as  re- 

11  turned  by  the  committee  or  refuse  to  surrender 

12  the  same  to  the  Executive  Board  upon  the  re- 

13  quest  of  the   Secretary-Treasurer,   it   shall  be 

14  subject    to    whatever    penalty    the    Executive 

15  Board  may  deem  necessary  to  impose  upon  it. 

16  Sec-  3.     Any  one  acting  as  a  strike-breaker 

17  or  scab  during  a  strike  in  the  jurisdiction  of 

18  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  who  pro- 

19  fesses  to  have  seen  the  error  of  his  ways,  may 

20  be  placed  on  probation  by  the  local  union  in- 

21  volved,  on  the  condition  that  he  remains  in  that 

22  union's  jurisdiction  and  lends  his  efforts  to  re- 

23  pair  the   wrong  he  has   helped   to   bring   on; 

24  provided,  that  this  shall  in  no  way  apply  to 

25  any  man  who  has  been  a  deputy  sheriff  or  gun 

26  man  in  the  employ  of  any  corporation.     Such 

27  men  shall  remain  on  probation  until  such  time 

28  as  the  local  union  involved  shall  declare  his  of- 

29  fense  expiated   in  full  by  good   work  for  the 

30  cause. 

31  In  case  of  a  union  being  defunct,  the  Execu- 

32  tive    Officers    of    the    Western    Federation    of 

33  Miners  shall  be  governed  by  this  provision.  The 

34  card    issued    on    probation    shall    be    marked 

35  "probation  card." 

19 


1  Sec.  4.     Whenever  any  member  of  a  local 

2  union  shall  be  discharged  for  participating  in 

3  the  active  affairs  of  the  local,  or  of  the  Western 

4  Federation  of  Miners,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 

5  the  local  union  to  investigate  fully  and  use  all 

6  means  in  their  power  to  have  same  member 

7  reinstated  in  his  position. 

8  Sec,    5.     Whenever   a    member   of   a    local 

9  union   shall  become   a  foreman,   shift  boss   or 

10  assume  a  position  that  cannot  be  termed  as 

11  part  of  the  mining  industry,  he  shall  lose  all 

12  rights  to  a  voice,  vote  or  seat  in  the  meetings 

13  of  his  local  union,  but  may  continue  his  mem- 

14  bership  as  a  beneficiary  member,  or  upon  ap- 

15  plication  to  the   Financial   Secretary  he  may 

16  be  granted  a  withdrawal  card. 

ARTICLE   XI. 
Legislation. 

17  Section  1.     The   initiative  and   referendum 

18  shall  govern  all  legislation.  Whenever  a  local 

19  in  good  standing,  delegate  or  delegation  in  con- 

20  vention  shall,   by  resolution,   offer  an  amend- 

21  ment  to  the  Constitution  and  By-laws,  the  same 

22  shall    be    considered    in    the    biennial    conven- 

23  tion,  and  by  that  body  submitted  to  the  mem- 

24  bers  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  who 

25  shall   vote  upon   the   same   within   sixty   dayc;. 

26  All  locals  voting  on  a  referendum  shall  use — 

27  First:     A  blank  record  sheet  for  the  names 

28  of  all  members  voting; 

29  Second:     Printed  ballots  with  the  questions 

30  fully  stated  upon  them,  with  the  spaces,  so  as 

31  to  vote  for  or  against  any  question; 

32  Third:     That   envelopes   containing   record 

33  sheets  with  names,  report  blanks,  with  totals 

20 


1  of    votes    cast    for    or    against    all    questions, 

2  should  contain  no  other  matter,  and  the  word 

3  "referendum"  should  be  marked  upon  the  en- 

4  velope,  and  the  same  shall  not  be  opened  until 

5  the   date   set   for   compiling   the   votes   of   all 

6  locals. 

7  After  having  received  the  approval  of  a  ma- 

8  jority  of  the  members  voting  upon  the  ques- 

9  tion,  it  shall  receive  the  signature  of  the  Presi- 

10  dent  and  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  becomes  a 

11  part  of  the  organic  law.    The  Secretary-Treas- 

12  urer  shall  canvass  the  vote  on  all  referendum 

13  questions  and  make  up  a  return  sheet,  setting 

14  forth  the  vote  of  each  local,  and  furnish  all 

15  locals  with  a  copy  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE   XII. 
Emergencies. 

16  Section  1.     Whenever  a  vital  circumstance, 

17  not  otherwise  provided  for,  arises  and  the  same 

18  cannot  in  justice  be  deferred  until  the  assem- 

19  bling  of  the  convention,  the  Executive  Board 

20  may  submit  any  important  question  so  arising 

21  to  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire   member- 

22  ship  in  good  standing,  in  the  manner  described 

23  in  Section  1,  Article  XI.    The  majority  of  such 

24  vote  to  govern  in  all  cases  submitted. 

25  Sec.  2.    Whenever  a  proposition  of  vital  im- 

26  portance  presents  itself  to  the  membership  of 

27  the  W.  F.  M.,  not  otherwise  provided  for,  the 

28  Executive   Board   shall,  on  demand  of  ten  or 

29  more  locals,  submit  all  such  matters  pertaining 

30  to   such    proposition    to    a    referendum    vote 

31  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  not  later  than 

32  fifteen    days    after    receipt    thereof;    provided 
83  that   no    such   referendum   shall   be   submitted 

21 


1  which  is  a  reversal  of  a  former  referendum 

2  within  one  year.     The  majority  of  such  vote 

3  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  concerned. 

4  Sec.   3.      This    constitution    shall    not    be 

5  amended  except  by  a  majority  vote  of  all  dele- 

6  gates  assembled  in  convention  or  by  initiative 

7  petition  of  at  least  ten  locals  of  this  organiza- 

8  tion,  representing  at  least  five  per  cent  of  the 

9  whole  membership,  the  same  to  be  approved 

10  by  referendum  vote  as  described  in  Section  1, 

11  Article  XI. 


22 


BY-LAWS 


ARTICLE    I. 
Strikes  and   Lockouts. 

1  Section  1.     Whenever  a  istrike  shall  be  ap- 

2  proved  by  the  Executive  Board  and  local  union 

3  as  authorized  by  Section  1  of  Article  VII,  of  the 

4  Constitution,  the  Treasurer  of  such  union  shall 

5  receive  all  aid  sent  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer. 

6  Said  Treasurer  shall  file  a  bond  with  the  Execu- 

7  tive  Board,  subject  to  its  approval,  in  such  sum 

8  or  sums  as  the  Executive  Board  may  determine. 

9  Said  Treasurer  shall  make  complete  itemized 

10  returns  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer  to  the 

1 1  Executive  Board  and  local  union  of  the  receipts 

12  and  disbursements,  and  the  persons  aided. 

Receipts    and    Accounts. 

13  Sec.  2.     Local  unions  shall  preserve  all  re 

14  ceipts  issued  by  the  Secretary  Treasurer  and 

15  have  the  same  presented  to  the  finance  com- 

16  mittee    at    the   biennial     convention,     through 

17  their  delegates  to  the  convention,  in  order  to 

18  compare  them  with  the  stub  book  of  the  Sec- 

19  retary-Treasurer. 

Password. 

20  Sec.  3.     The  President  shall   send  to  each 

21  union  which  has  paid  per  capita  tax  and  is  not 

22  ninety  days  in  arrears  for  assessments,  a  quar- 

23  terly  password. 

Membership   Card. 

24  Sec.  3A.     Throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

25  Western  Federation  of  Miners  a  uniform  mem- 

23 


1  bership  card  shall  be  used.   The  same  shall  be 

2  the  stamp  card  system,  approved  by  the  Tenth 

3  and  amended  by  the  Sixteenth  Annual  Conven- 

4  tion;    the  form  and  style  of  said  cards  shall 

5  provide  a  space  wherein  local  Secretaries  shall 

6  record  the  amount  of  sick  benefits  received  by 

7  each  member.     Said  card  shall  be  designed  by 

8  the  Executive  Officers  of  the  Western  Federa- 

9  tion  of  Miners. 

Withdrawal    Cards. 

10  Sec.   4.     If  a   member  takes    a   withdrawal 

11  card  from  the  union  to  which  he  belongs  and 

12  goes  to  work  as  specified  in  Section  1,  Article 

13  1,  of  the  Constitution,  where  there  is  a  union 

14  of  the  Federation,  he  shall  at  once  deposit  his 

15  card  in  that  union;  failing  to  do  so,  he  shall  be 

16  held  for  dues  and  assessments  from  the  time 

17  he  starts  to  work  by  the  union  within  whose 

18  jurisdiction  he  may  be  employed. 

19  Sec.  5.     No  withdrawal  card  shall  be  issued 

20  to  any  member  of  the  W.  F.  M.   except  such 

21  members  who  are  actually  engaged  in  some  oc- 

22  cupation  not  included  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

23  W.  F.  M.,  or  one  who  permanently  retires  from 

24  the   occupation   specified    in   Article   I   of   the 

25  Constitution. 

26  Sec.   6.     Local  unions    of    the    Federation 

27  shall   have   full   juridiction   over   all   members 

28  who   are    permanent    residents    of   their   local 

29  districts,  subject,  however,  to  the  right  of  ap- 

30  peal  described  in  Section  2,  Article  X,  of  the 

31  Constitution. 

32  Sec.   7,     Local  unions  shall  have  power  to 

33  name  the   amount   to  be   collected  as   a  rein- 

34  statement   fee   from    members    six   months   or 

35  more  in  arrears  for  dues  and  assessments. 

36  Sec.  8.     Secretaries  shall  place  due  stamps 

37  on  members'  cards  for  back  dues  collected  for 

38  reinstatement  or  otherwise. 

24 


Interchangeable   Cards. 

1  Sec.    9.     Transfer     cards     and     withdrawal 

2  cards  issued  by  any  chartered  labor  organiza- 

3  tion  shall  be  accepted  by  local  unions  of  the 

4  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  subject  to  the 

5  rules  and  qualifications  governing  members  of 

6  such    locals    of   the     Western     Federation     of 

7  Miners. 

Transfer. 

8  Sec.  10.     Any  member  leaving  the  jurisdic- 

9  tion  of  his  union  and  going  to  work  in  the  juris- 

10  diction  of  another  union  of  the  Federation  shall 

11  immediately  deposit  his  membership  card  with 

12  the  Financial  Secretary  and  pay  up  all  arrear- 

13  ages.     The  Financial  Secretary  receiving  the 

14  member's  card    shall    immediately    notify    the 

15  union  of  which  the  member  has  a  card,  so  that 

16  the  member's  account  can  be  closed  in  the  for- 

17  mer  union;    and  the  failure  upon  the  part  of 

18  the   Financial    Secretary   to   notify   the   union 

19  within  fifteen  days  shall  subject  him  to  a  fine 

20  of  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  five. 

21  All  arrearages  collected    (other  than  local  as- 

22  sessments)    shall  belong  to  the  union  receiv- 

23  ing  the  membership  card  and  all  advance  dues 

24  which  may  have  been  paid  shall  be  remitted; 

25  provided,  however,  that  no  advance  dues  shall 

26  be  requested  for  the  month  in  which  transfer 

27  is  made.    Any  member  in  good  standing  trans- 

28  ferring  from  one  local  to  another,  upon  signing 

29  the  Constitution,   shall  be  entitled  to  all   the 

30  rights  and  benefits  of  that  local. 

31  Sec.  11.     Any  member  working  within  the 

32  jurisdiction  of  a  local  union  and  refusing  to  de- 

33  posit  his  card,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not 

34  less  than  $1.00  nor  more  than  $50.00,  said  fine 

35  to  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  local  union. 

36  Sec.  12.     When  a  member  of  a  local  union 

37  goes  to  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of  another 

38  and  refuses  to  deposit  his  card,  it  shall  be  its 

25 


1  duty  to  place  a  fine  against  him  and  suspend 

2  him  from  any  benefits  whatsoever.  Any  Secre- 

3  tary  accepting  dues  from  a  member  who  is  in 

4  the  jurisdiction  of  another  local  shall  be  sub- 

5  ject  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $1.00  nor  more 

6  than  $5.00. 

ARTICLE    II. 
Supplies. 

7  Section  1.     All  withdrawal  and  notification 

8  cards  of  the  Federation  shall  be  made  of  uni- 

9  form  size,  with  stub  attachment. 

10  Sec.   2.     The   Federation    has   adopted,    for 

11  the  sake  of  uniformity,  the  following  supplies, 

12  which  must  he  procured  from   the   Secretar}^- 

13  Treasurer,  except  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 

14  where  blanks  shall  be  printed  to  conform  with 

15  the  laws  and  usages  of  that  country,  as  well 

16  as  in   conformity   with  this   Constitution,   and 

17  that  the  same  may  be  printed  in  the  Dominion 

18  of  Canada,     viz.:       Constitutions,     withdrawal 

19  cards,     notification     cards,     quarterly     report 

20  blanks,  blank  bonds  for  officers  of  unions,  ap- 

21  plication    blanks,    ledger,   day   book   and   cash 

22  book,  and  that  it  be  imperative  on  the  part  of 

23  all  locals  to  use  this  system  of  bookkeeping. 

24  Provided,  all  membership  cards  and  the  auth- 

25  orized  metal  emblem  of  the  Federation  shall  be 

26  procured  from  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the 

27  Federation. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Nominations,     Elections    and     Installations     of 
Officers. 

28  Sec.   1.     Nominations    of    officers    in    local 

29  unions  shall  be  made  from  the  floor.    Nomina- 

30  tions  shall  remain  open  for  three  regular  meet- 

31  ings   prior   to   election,   when   each   Recording 

32  Secretary    shall,    within    ten   days    thereafter, 

33  forward  the  names  of  all  officers  elected  to  the 

34  Secretary-Treasurer   of   the   Federation,     who 

26 


1  shall    compile    a   directory   of   the    same   and 

2  forward   a   copy  of  these   directories   to   each 
o  local   union.     It  shall   be   optional   with   eacii 

4  local  union  as  to  whether  it  shall  hold  annual 

5  or  semi-annual  elections.     Installation  of  offi- 

6  cers  for  local  unions  shall  not  take  place  until 

7  the  first  meeting  in  July  or  in  January. 

Balloting. 

8  Sec.  2.    All  unions  shall,  on  the  demand  of 

9  five  or  more  members  in  good  standing,  take  a 

10  secret  ballot  upon  any  question  coming  before 

11  the  union. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
Jurisdiction. 

12  Section  1.     The  jurisdiction  of  the  Federa- 
ls tion  shall  extend  to  all  states  and  territories 

14  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada  as  described  in 

15  Section  7,  Article  IV,  of  the  Constitution. 

District   Unions. 

16  Sec.  2.    Where  a  majority  of  members  vot- 

17  ing  in  a  district  or  state  deem  it  necessary, 

18  they  may  organize  a  district  or  state  union  for 

19  the  purpose  of  doing  business  for  the  district 

20  or  state.     Such  unions  shall  apply  to  the  Fed- 

21  eration  for,  and  receive  a  special  charter,  said 

22  charter  to  be  issued  at  cost.     Such  district  or 

23  state  union  shall  be  subordinate  to  the  Feder- 

24  ation,  but  shall  be  a  higher  authority  than  the 

25  local  unions  of  the  Federation  in  its  jurisdic- 

26  tion.    All  local  unions  of  the  Federation  with- 

27  in  the  jurisdiction  of  a  district  or  state  union 

28  shall  be  a   member  of   said   district  or   state 

29  union  and  recognize  the  authority  of  same. 

Defunct  Unions. 

30  Sec.  3.    When  any  local  union  has  a  mem- 

31  bership    of   less    than    ten    members    in    good 

32  standing,  the  charter  of  such  local  may  be  con- 

33  sidered  defunct,  and  surrender  its  charter  and 


1  books  to  the  Federation;    and  any  member  of 

2  the  said   union   becoming   desirous   of  joining 

3  another   union  of  the  Western   Federation   of 

4  Miners  sliall,  by  paying  the  dues  and  assess- 

5  ments  he  owed  in  his  former  union  ui^  to  the 

6  time  the  books  were  turned  over  to  the  Fed- 

7  eration,  be  transferred  to  the  union  to  which 

8  he  makes  application. 

9  Sec.    4.     The    property    of    defunct    unions 

10  shall  be  held  in  trust  by  the  Federation  for  a 

11  period  of  not  less  than  one  year;  thereafter  it 

12  shall  become  the  property  of  the  Federation. 

13  Sec.  5.     Where  two  or  more  locals  are  situ- 

14  ated  in  the  same  locality  or  district,  and  one  or 

15  more  locals  become  weakened  by  loss  of  mem- 

16  bers   or   otherwise,   they   may,   by   a   majority 

17  vote  of  each  local  interested,  consolidate.     All 

18  money  and  property  shall  belong  to  the  union 

19  so  consolidated,  except  the  charter  or  charters 

20  of  the  locals  ceasing  to  exist,  said  charters  to 

21  be    forwarded    to     headquarters     immediately. 

22  The  unions  so   consolidated   shall  be  held  for 

23  all  existing  indebtedness. 

ARTSCLE   V. 

24  Section  1.     Each  local  Financial  Secretary 

25  must  keep  a  record  of  all  members   that  are 

26  expelled  from  local  unions,  and  when  a  person 

27  is  proposed  for  admittance  into  any  local  of 

28  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  the  Finan- 

29  cial   Secretary  must   first  look  at  the  list  re- 

30  ported  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Fed- 

31  eration  and  then  report  to  his  union  the  result 

32  of  his  investigation. 

Correspondence. 

33  Sec.  2.     Each  Secretary  of  the  local  union 

34  shall  be  required  to  keep  a  copy  of  all  corre- 

35  spondence  in  a  copying  book  suitable  for  that 

36  purpose. 

28 


ARTICLE  VI. 
Fines  and  Penalties. 

t         Section  1.     Any  member  who  is  under  the 

2  influence  of  liquor,  appearing  as  a  delegate  at 

3  any  convention  of  the  Western  Federation  of 

4  Miners,  or  failing  to  answer  roll  call  without 

5  being  excused  by  the  President,  shall  be  fined 

6  for  the  first  offense  the  sum  of  one  dollar;  for 

7  the  second  offense  the  sum  of  two  dollars;  for 

8  the  third  offense  the  sum  of  five  dollars,  and 

9  any  delegate  or  delegates  who  shall  have  been 

10  guilty  of  such  an  offense  shall  be  censured  and 

11  reprimanded  by  the  President,  and  the  union 

12  to  which  he  or  they  may  belong  shall  be  noti- 

13  fied  of  his  action. 


ORDER  OF  BUSINESS 

1.  Call  the  meeting  to  order. 

2.  Warden,  secure  the  door. 

3.  Presentation  of  credentials. 

4.  Appointment  of  committees. 

5.  Roll  call. 

6.  Reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting. 

7.  Communications  and  correspondence. 

8.  Bills. 

9.  Reports  of  officers. 

10.  Reports  of  standing  committees. 

11.  Special  committees. 

12.  Unfinished  business. 

13.  New  business. 

14.  Election  of  officers. 

15.  Good  and  welfare  of  the  Federation. 

16.  Installation  of  officers. 

17.  Adjournment. 

29 


RULES  OF  ORDER 


1  During  the  continuance  of  the  meeting  si- 

2  lence  must  be  observed,  the  officers  and  mem- 

3  bers  retaining  their  respective  seats,  and  no 

4  one  leaving  the  room  without  permission  of 

5  the  President  or  Vice-President. 

6  No  member  shall,  by  conversation  or  other- 

7  wise,  interrupt  the  business  of  the  Federation 

8  or  refuse  to  obey  the  chair. 

9  The   President,   while  presiding,   will   state 

10  every  question  coming  before  the  Federation, 

11  and   immediately  before   putting  it  to   a   vote 

12  shall  ask:     "Are  you  ready  for  the  question?" 

13  Should  no  member  rise  to  speak,  or  by  silence 

14  indicate  their  readiness,  he  shall  rise  to  state 

15  the  question,  and  after  he  has  risen  no  member 

16  shall  be  permitted  to  speak  upon  it.   He  shall 

17  announce  the  result  or  decision  of  the  Feder- 

18  ation  upon  all  subjects. 

19  Every  member,  when  he  speaks  or  offers  a 

20  motion,  shall  rise  and  respectfully  address  the 

21  presiding  officer.   While  speaking  he  shall  con- 

22  confine   himself  to  the  subject  under  debate, 

23  avoiding  all  personalities  and  indecorous  lan- 

24  guage,   as    well    as    any   reflections    upon   the 

25  union  or  its  members. 

26  Should  two  or  more  members  rise  to  speak 

27  at  the  same  time,  the  chair  shall  decide  who  is 
^8  entitled  to  the  floor. 

29  No    member    shall   disturb    another   in   his 

30  speech  unless  to  call  him  to  order  for  words 

31  spoken. 

32  If  a  member,  while  speaking,  shall  be  called 

33  to  order,  at  the  request  of  the  chair,  he  shall 

34  cease   speaking   and   take   his    seat   until   the 

30 


1  question  of  order  is  determined,  when,  if  per- 

2  mitted,  he  may  again  proceed. 

3  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  once  on 

4  the  same  question  until  all  the  members  wish- 

5  ing  to  speak  shall  have  had  the  opportunity  to 

6  do  so,  nor  more  than  twice  without  the  per- 

7  mission  of  the  chair. 

8  When  any  communication,  petition  or  mem- 

9  orial   is   presented,   before   it   is   read   a   brief 

10  statement  of  its  contents  shall  be  made  by  the 

11  introducer  to  the  chair. 

12  No  motion  shall  be  subject  to  action  unless 

13  seconded  and  stated  by  the  chair. 

14  Any  member  may  cail  for  a  division  on  a 

15  question  when  the  sense  will  admit  it. 

16  When  a  question  is  before  the  Federation 

17  no  motion  shall  be  received  unless  to  close,  the 

18  previous  question,  to  lay  on  the  table,  to  post- 
19  pone  indefinitely,  to  refer,  to  amend,  and  shall 

20  have  precedence  in  the  order  herein  arranged 

21  — the    first   three    of   which    shall    be    decided 

22  without  debate. 

23  After  any  question,  except  one  of  indefinite 

24  postponement  or  one  the  result  of  which  the  Fed- 

25  eration  cannot  reverse,  has  been  decided,  any 

26  member  who  voted  in  the  majority  may,  at  the 

27  same  meeting  move  a  reconsideration  thereof. 

28  No   amendments   shall   be    received   except 

29  they  are  in  writing. 

30  All  questions  not  provided  for  by  the  Con- 

31  stitution,  By-Laws,  Rules  of  Order,  or  by  the 

32  General  Laws  of  the  Federation,  shall  be  de- 

33  termined  by  a  majority  of  the  members  at  a 

34  regular  meeting. 

35  These  rules  may  be  suspended  for  a  special 

36  purpose  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 

37  bers  present. 

38  Roberts'   Rules   of    Order   shall   govern   the 

39  proceedings  of  the  Federation  in  the  absence 

40  of  any   rules  not  herein   provided   for. 

31 


INDEX 


CONSTITUTION. 

Page 

Organization  and   Objects    <> 

Convention     3-5 

Pay  of  Delegates 5 

Nomination   and  Election  of  Officers  and   Execu- 
tive   Board    i 5-7 

Duties   of  President 8-10 

Duties  of  Vice-President   10 

Duties  of  Secretary-Treasurer    10-12 

Executive    Board   and   Duties   of 12-14 

Revenues   and  Disbursements    14 

Penalty  for  Violation  of  Stamp  System 14 

Official   Journal    15 

Strikes   and    Adjustment    15-16 

New  Unions   and   Jurisdiction    of 16-17 

Penalties    17 

Duties  and  Privileges  of  Members 17-20 

Legislation     20-21 

h]mergencies    by    Legislation    21-22 

Constitution,    How   Amended    22 

BY-LAWS. 

Strikes  and   Lockouts    23 

Receipts  and  Accounts    23 

Password      23 

Membership    Card    23-24 

Withdrawal     Cards     24 

Reinstatement    24 

Interchangeable   Cards    25 

Transfer     25-26 

Supplies 26 

Nomination,   Election  of  Officers    26-27 

Balloting     27 

Jurisdiction  of  Federation    27 

District    Unions    27 

Defunct   Unions    27-28 

Expelled  Members   2N 

Correspondence  of  Locals    2S 

Fines  and  Penalties  of  Delegates 2!» 

Mules  of  Order ;^0-31 

Order  of  Business    29 

32 


